504 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



birds which stray in summer to the coasts of the warmer 

 States.* 



The flight of the Tropic-Bird is often conducted to a 

 prodigious height, at which in every season it can obtain a 

 temperature of the most delightful kind. At other times, 

 affected by the ordinary wants of nature, he descends from 

 his lofty station, and accompanied by an ignoble throng of 

 Frigates, Pelicans and Boobies, he attends the appearance of 

 the flying-fish as they emerge from the water, pursued by 

 their enemies of the deep. They are sometimes observed 

 to rest on the surface of the sea ; and have been seen in 

 calm weather, upon the backs of the drowsy tortoises, 

 supinely floating, so that they have been easily taken by 

 allowing the approach of a boat. On shore they will 

 perch on trees, and are said to breed on the ground be- 

 neath the shade of the adjoining woods. They are met with 

 on the islands of St. Helena, Ascension, Mauritius, New 

 Holland and in various parts of the South Seas ; but in no 

 place are they so numerous as at Palmerston Island, where, 

 along with the Frigates they appeared in such plenty, that the 

 trees were absolutely loaded with them, and so tame or list- 

 less that they suffered themselves to be taken from the 

 boughs by hand. In the Sandwich and Friendly Islands, 

 where they also abound, the natives set a high value 

 on the long tail feathers made use of by way of ornament, 

 and in Otaheite they formed a conspicuous part of the osten- 

 tatious garment worn by mourners. The flesh, though often 

 eaten by mariners cannot be accounted good. 



The length of the Tropic-Bird is about 2 feet 10 inches to the tip 

 of the long tail feathers ; the common size of the bird being about that 

 of a domestic pigeon. The bill is upwards of 3 inches long and red. 



* Kalm even observed them out at sea off the coast of the United States in the 

 latitude of 40°. 



